Connor Bedard Bio
Connor Bedard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered one of the top ice hockey prospects of his generation, he was selected first overall by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut that same year. Bedard won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2024 and quickly established himself as the focal point of the Blackhawks’ rebuilding effort.
Born on July 17, 2005, Bedard grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and rose through the Canadian minor hockey system with a reputation for elite scoring and playmaking. His blend of speed, vision, and a powerful shot made him a generational prospect before he ever played a shift in the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Connor Bedard was born on July 17, 2005, and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia, alongside his parents, Tom and Melanie, and his sister, Madi. His great-great uncle, James Bedard, played 22 NHL games for the Chicago Blackhawks between 1949 and 1951, creating a long family link to the franchise that would eventually draft his great-great nephew decades later. Bedard grew up cheering for the Vancouver Canucks and attended games at Rogers Arena, but he considered Sidney Crosby his childhood idol.
In 2018, The Hockey News profiled Bedard as “The Future of Hockey,” signalling his status as a future star. He played minor hockey with the West Vancouver Academy Prep program in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he led the league in goals and points at both the U15 and U18 levels and was named most valuable player in both seasons. Those performances set the stage for his historic entry into major junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
In March 2020, Hockey Canada granted Bedard exceptional player status, allowing him to enter the Canadian Hockey League a year early. He became the first player granted such status to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL). That same year, the Regina Pats selected him first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft, making him the cornerstone of their franchise.
Because the WHL season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bedard was loaned to the HV71 junior program in Sweden, where he played until the WHL returned in March 2021. After his shortened rookie season with Regina, Bedard was awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s rookie of the year, confirming that his transition to major junior hockey had been seamless.
Connor Bedard Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
Bedard’s three seasons with the Regina Pats transformed him from a prodigy into the most dominant player in the Canadian Hockey League. During the 2021–22 WHL season, he became the youngest player to score 50 or more goals in a season, finishing with 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points and ranking second in the WHL in goals and fourth in points. He was only the third 16-year-old in WHL history to record a 100-point season.
In his final WHL campaign of 2022–23, Bedard won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league’s leading scorer after registering 71 goals and 72 assists for 143 points in 57 games, the first 140-point WHL season since 1995–96. He also claimed the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL most valuable player, becoming the first draft-eligible player to earn the honour since Sam Reinhart, and swept the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Scorer, Player of the Year, and Top Draft Prospect awards.
WHL Playoffs (2023)
The Regina Pats qualified for the 2023 WHL playoffs and drew a first-round matchup against the Saskatoon Blades. Bedard opened the series with two goals and an assist in a 6–1 victory, recording the first playoff points of his junior career. After the Pats won the first two games and then dropped three straight, Bedard responded with a goal and three assists in a 5–3 Game 6 win to force a deciding game. The Pats were eliminated 4–1 in Game 7 in Saskatoon, but Bedard finished the series with 10 goals and 10 assists, closing out his major junior career.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2023–Present)
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft on June 28, 2023, making him the second player born in British Columbia taken first overall after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on July 17, 2023, his 18th birthday, and made his NHL debut on October 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, recording an assist in a 4–2 win. He scored his first NHL goal the following night against the Boston Bruins.
Bedard went on to lead all NHL rookies with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games during the 2023–24 season and became the first Blackhawks player since Artemi Panarin in 2016 to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. His sophomore 2024–25 campaign produced 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points in all 82 games, and he opened the 2025–26 season strong, recording his fourth career four-point game in a 4–0 win over the Calgary Flames on November 7, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Connor Bedard is widely regarded as a complete offensive centre, combining an elite wrist shot with the playmaking instincts of a natural passer. His acceleration and edge work allow him to create separation in tight areas, while his hockey IQ enables him to read plays a step ahead of defenders, making him equally dangerous as a scorer and a setup man.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bedard was the inaugural recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award after a record-setting 2023 World Junior Championships in which he set new Canadian and international points records and was named tournament MVP. He also became the youngest Blackhawks player in franchise history to record a multi-goal game and the youngest NHL rookie since 1944 to post a four-point contest.
Connor Bedard Career Wins
Connor Bedard has accumulated an extensive list of individual awards and championship medals across junior, international, and NHL competition, reflecting his consistent dominance at every level of the game. His trophy haul includes league scoring titles, most valuable player honours, and a Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.
WHL and CHL Highlights
Bedard captured the WHL’s Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy in 2021, the Bob Clarke Trophy as leading scorer in 2023, and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as league MVP in 2023. He also swept the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Scorer, Player of the Year, and Top Draft Prospect awards that same season, becoming the first player ever to win all three in a single year.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Bedard won gold with Canada’s under-18 team at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships and back-to-back gold medals with Canada at the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships, where he was named tournament MVP in 2023. He also earned the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence in advance of the 2023 NHL draft for his commitment to character, competitiveness, and athleticism.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHL Rookie Points Lead (2023–24) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Connor Bedard Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Connor Bedard was raised by his parents, Tom and Melanie, alongside his sister, Madi, in North Vancouver, British Columbia. His great-great uncle, James Bedard, played 22 games for the Chicago Blackhawks between 1949 and 1951, creating a generational family connection to the franchise that would eventually draft Connor in 2023.
Personal Life
Bedard has kept much of his personal life private as he focuses on his early NHL career. He grew up in North Vancouver and considers Sidney Crosby his childhood idol, a connection that has shaped his approach to the game and his development as a two-way centre.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 NHL season has begun strongly for Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. On November 7, 2025, Bedard recorded his fourth career four-point game in a 4–0 win over the Calgary Flames, becoming the first player since Steven Stamkos to record four or more four-point games before the age of 21.
Bedard’s early-season scoring pace has reinforced his status as the offensive engine of a young Blackhawks roster still in the midst of a roster rebuild. His chemistry with linemates and growing comfort in head coach Anders Sorensen’s system have been central storylines in Chicago’s push for consistency.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the 2025–26 season, Bedard remains the focal point of the Blackhawks’ offence and a cornerstone of their long-term competitive plan. With his entry-level contract running through 2026, the franchise views him as the player around whom its next contending core will be built.